Pen clips



Nov. 18, 1969 E. G. PAQUETTE 3,

PEN CLIPS Filed Dec. 1, 1967 United States Patent 3,478,393 PEN CLIPS Elmer Gordon Paquette, Madison, Wis., assignor to Bjorksten Research Laboratories, Inc., Madison, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Dec. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 687,206

Int. Cl. B43k 25/00 US. CI. 24-11 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to pen and pencil clips or clasps, or clasping devices intended to temporarily attach small objects to fabric, like a pen into a pocket. Such articles are generically referred to as pen clips.

Heretofore pen and pencil clamps have depended on point contact for retention in pockets and the like. This use of single point compression results in excessive Wear of the surfaces grasped by the clasp, and in addition does not provide as firm a hold as can be attained by application of the present invention.

Furthermore, it is not effective in that if the spring is tightened to the point where it firmly retains the object in the pocket, the spring loading becomes so strong that the pressure point causes wear of the fabric. Many articles are undoubtedly lost because of clip failure.

The present invention has for an object to provide improved means for temporarily attaching pen-like or other small objects to fabric-like materials.

Another object is to solve manufacturing problems related both to obtaining the right degree of spring loading, and to freedom from burrs at the contact points.

An object of this invention is also a new and improved pen clip, in which these tolerances and conditions are not critical.

Another object is a pen clip spine which is not required to touch or otherwise contact the pen or pencil barrel.

Another object is a pen clip which has multiple low pressure contact points for improved holding and alignment.

Another object is a pen clip held in place by means of directionally oriented helical loops.

Other objects are surfaces having directional frictional characteristics.

Another object is a pen clasp having a contact area rather than a contact point.

Further objects will become apparent as the following detailed description proceeds.

In accordance with my invention, -I attach to a removable object, such as a pen or pencil, a clip or clasp in which spring tension or point characteristics are not critical, because the clip or clasp provides multiple low pressure contact points for improved holding and alignment characteristics as compared to presently used single contact clips. In the following description and claims I use the word pen clip in a broad sense, to include means for temporary attachment of any small and frequently needed object such as pens, pencils, fever thermometers, microphones, eyeglasses, flash lights, and the like, to a flexible thin material, in the general way that a pen or pencil is held to the fabric in a pocket where it is placed when not in use.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by 3,478,393 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 the drawings, of which FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views.

In accordance with my invention, I bond firmly to the pen clip a surface which has directional frictional properties, so that when inserted in a pocket the frictionally engaged inner surface of the pen clip will cause it to be easily positioned and clasped in a pocket, but to offer an increased frictional resistance to removal. This will minimize the probability of accidental loss of the object secured, while still permitting easy intentional removal.

Generally, I apply to the underside of the clip a suitable yielding material of directional frictional properties, so as to fill the gap between the clip and the proximate surface. Suitable for this purpose are felts in which the strands can be made to point substantially in one direction which forms a less than angle with the projection of the clip on the adjoining surface; flocked tapes and piled materials having considerable rigidity and meeting the above requirement are also suitable as are resilient foamed plastics or metals in which the direction of the walls separating the bubbles are tilted in some preferred direction, which is applied so as to facilitate the insertion of cloth in the clip, but make a stronger pull required for its removal, thereby reducing the hazard of accidental loss of the object which the clip is intended to secure. Coiled springs, or individual rings fabricated of natural, polymeric or metallic fibers are particularly preferred. These can be arranged so that the loops of the coils are oriented with a bias, so as to offer more frictional resistance in the direction toward which the loose ends of the loops are pointed. The rounded loops or rings minimize the abrasion of the fabric to which they are engaged.

To illustrate the invention, I refer to the drawings, of which FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURE 1, in which 1 is a substantially rigid spine, 2 is multicontact point retaining means, and preferably a helix of a monofilament capable of elastic deformation which permits easy entry at the contact area without substantial permanent change of its configuration on repeated flexing; 6 is an adhesive which secures 2 to 1. When cloth 5 is inserted between the clip and the pen 4, as shown in FIG. 2, these loops 2 will bend backward in the direction of motion when the clip is being placed in the pocket, so that the loops will point inward like so many rounded barbs. Due to this orientation, a greater pull will be required to remove the pen clipped to the pocket than was required to insert it, the difference being at least 50% but more often several hundred percent.

FIGURE 3 shows another embodiment, in which instead of loops a felt-like assembly of monofilaments is used, preferably having their ends fused, ground, or otherwise rounded to minimize the wear on a pocket. Multifilament yarn may also be used, provided the overall characteristics are suitable. When these have a length exceeding the distance from rigid spine 1 to the pen 4, they will function as barbs in the manner above explained for the loops.

Generally materials which could be used include those materials which can be incorporated or bonded to the underside of a clip. These materials should fill the gap between the rigid spine and the pen or barrel 4 resiliently so that fabric can be inserted therein and so that this fabric upon such insertion causes a reorientation of the filling material to facilitate its entry and inhibit its withdrawal without causing excessive wear of the fabric. While helically wound loops are preferred, other materials which are usable for this purpose include felts, flocked tapes, piled materials and resilient foams, having bubble size sufficient to give an edge effect similar to that obtained with helical loops.

While coil springs appear the most practical and generally the most satisfactory form of the invention, it would be possible also to use individual rings fabricated and attached so as to be bendable in response to insertion pressures in the same fashion as described above.

Suitable filament diameters for coiled springs used for this invention are about .002" to .030" and preferably .006 to .020". The preferred coil diameter depends upon spine to barrel spacing (let this distance equal X). Then if X" to 2X"-:coil diameter the coil spacing is preferably .020" to .200".

If felt is used, the preferred fiber diameter is .0005" to .015" and the preferred fiber or pile length is X to 2X, X being defined as above. The fiber length or coil diameter however may be varied dependent also on stiffmess, the requirement being that the force required. for withdrawal of the fabric should be markedly greater than the force required for its insertion.

Advantages of the pen clips of this invention which were found include:

(1) The absence of critical tolerances to obtain optimum spring constants.

(2) It does not require specialized handling or deburring techniques.

(3) The presence of multiple low pressure contact points reduce fabric wear occasioned by a single spring loaded point and provide an area grip to resist traveling or swiveling.

(4) Allowing a smooth, relatively uniform withdrawal regardless of hems and seams.

(5) Providing relatively high resistance initially to clip withdrawal.

(6) Providing a holding or frictional force which can be engineered by a choice of material and construction rather than by a single spring constant.

The material of which the clip or spring or adhesive is made is not critical for the purpose of the invention so long as the clip has adequate rigidity, the contact points have flexibility and resilience adequate to secure a substantial increase in attachment force required for withdrawal compared to force required for inse1tion, and so long as adhesive has good adhesion power both for clip and for material attached. Where the coil spring or rings or felt are metallic, a solder can be used to effect a bond. Otherwise an organic glue is preferred. Favorable results have been obtained with epoxy glues and methacrylate glues; however nylon-phenolic, phenolic, and phenolic-polyamide glues would also be entirely satisfactory.

Basically the invention contemplates the use of multiple contact points under a clip, aranged so as to cause an inward deflection on insertion of the clip into the pocket so that the cloth enters between clip and pen and so that the rigidity and/ or elasticity of the holding material such as a coil spring is suflicient to constitute an impediment to withdrawal of the pen without causing excessive Wear of the fabric. A helical coil is preferred because it is easy to prepare, and at the same time the rounded coils are substantially non-abrasive.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A pen clip having a multiplicity of pressure points, said pressure points being fiber coils, flexible to permit easy insertion of fabric but which when so flexed, will exert increased resistance to the withdrawal thereof.

2. As claim 1, the said pressure points being the ends of fibers having diameter .0005" to .015 and a length between 1 and 2 times the daylight between spine and pen barrel, fibers being fixed to the inside of the pen clip with the other end being pointed inward upon insertion into the clip of a fabric.

3. As claim 1, the said pressure points being the ends of fibers having diameter .0005" to .015" and a length between 1 and 2 times the daylight between spine and pen barrel, fibers being fixed to the inside of the pen clip with the other end being being pointed inward upon insertion a fabric, the said fibers forming bristles of keratinous natural products.

4. As claim 1, the said pressure points being the ends of fibers having diameter .0005" to .015" and a length between 1 and 2 times the daylight between spine and pen barrel, fibers being fixed to the inside of the pen clip with the other end being pointed inward upon insertion into the clip of a fabric, the ends of said fibers being of plastic, their ends having been deformed by a thermal treatment.

5. A pen clip having a multiplicity of pressure points, said pressure points being fiber coils, flexible to permit easy insertion of fabric but which when so flexed, will exert increased resistance to the withdrawal thereof, the said fiber coils being of polypropylene.

6. A pen clip having a multiplicity of pressure points, said pressure points being fiber coils, flexible to permit easy insertion of fabric but which when so flexed, will exert increased resistance to the withdrawal thereof, the said fiber coils being of a polyvinyl halide resin.

7. A pen clip having a multiplicity of pressure points, said pressure points being fiber coils, flexible to permit easy insertion of fabric but which when so flexed, will exert increased resistance to the withdrawal thereof, the said fiber coils being of a polyene resin.

8. A pen clip having a multiplicity of pressure points, said pressure points being fiber coils, flexible to permit easy insertion of fabric but which when so flexed, will exert increased resistance to the withdrawal thereof, the said coil being made from a fiber having a diameter of .002" to .030", coils being spaced substantially .020 to .200" apart.

9. A pen clip having a multiplicity of pressure points adapted to permit easy insertion of fabric, but exerting stronger resistance to the withdrawal thereof, said pressure points being leaves of randomly disposed cut film of varying lengths.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,257,937 2/1918 Rust 24-3.8 1,819,225 8/1931 Burman 24-10 2,279,803 4/ 1942 Visitacion 2411 2,569,704 10/1951 Weiss 2411 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 752,813 7/ 1933 France.

924,231 2/ 1955 Germany.

867,527 5/ 1961 Great Britain.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner 

